The geometric patterned oak in the storefront and interior ceiling bring an element of modernity to a traditional building material. It reinforces the idea of using old-world ideas in a current and exciting way; the way the client combines ancient apothecary blending methods with modern day living.

The new UniSuper space is a bold departure from the remainder of their property portfolio. Management and employees were actively involved in the creation of the work environment and this commitment to their team shows in the final design.

My packaging solution would come in the form of a practical design, with materials that are 100% disposable in an environmentally friendly fashion. The paint is stored inside a bladder made from #4 LDPE, an easily domestically-recyclable plastic, which is manufactured using 70% less plastic than a plastic bottle of the same volume.

Consistent with the green and wooden theme on the ground floor, the café’s chairs, sofas and wall décor are made from compacted recycled cardboards and spare planks. The masterpiece of the café is the “feature wall,” made entirely from recycled cardboards, which showcases butterfly and tree imageries.

The ‘courtyard’ seating area is lit by festoon lighting and hung with bunting and paved in stone, crazy-paving. The show kitchen has the appearance of a temporary structure made with found and recycled materials such as oil drums, milk crates and bamboo.

A creative space for a creative company. Neumann/Smith Architecture helped advertising agency, Lowe Campbell Ewald, breath new life into a 100-year old building, setting a precedent for repurposing long vacant Detroit buildings, shining the light on historic preservation and anchoring the creative sector’s place as a strong economic engine for Detroit.

Ahead the walls, as a new layer, we proposed a number of recycled items, such as pallets, ropes and wheels that fit with the brand image and the idea that we wanted to convey. With minimal resources we bet for a sustainable and original design.